Marples Smoothing Plane - No. M4
The Verdict
Reviewed By: I.Ball
Category: Old Smoothing Planes
Manufacturer: Marples
Plane Type: Smoothing
Model No: M4
The Marples smoothing plane number M4 is fitted with a Beech rear handle,
a Beech front knob, a 'Marples' lever cap, a cap iron and a Marples
blade. The blade rests on a flat faced frog.
The cap iron for these Marples bench planes have a piece at the
top set at an angle with the wording on the cap iron saying 'Correct
Angle For Grinding', as you may have guessed the angle at which the top
of the cap iron is set is intended as a guide for when sharpening the
blade. The design of these cap irons I believe is unique (there are similar).
The blade can be easily adjusted laterally using the lateral adjuster
found behind the blade.
The plane is finished with a red japanning.
Additional Information
The Bodies, Frogs and Lever Caps are made of high grade Cast Iron and the Lever
Caps are Plated.
The Positive Cutter Adjustment, together with the Adjustable Frog
make accurate work easy to perform.
The handles are of Selected Hardwood and the
Cutting Iron of heat treated Tungsten Vanadium Steel retains its fast cutting edge
on the hardest of timbers.
Plane Construction
Width: 61mm (2 3/8 inch)
Length Of Sole: 240mm (9 1/2 inch)
Mouth Width: 52mm
Cast Thickness: 2.5-3mm
Weight: 1.75kg
Handle and Knob: wooden, usually Beech
Plane finish: red
Marples M4 Plane Blade / Cutter
Width: 51mm
Blade Thickness: 2mm
Slot Length: 109mm
Slot Width: 6.5mm
Top Of Blade Shape: Squared
Blade Markings: W. Marples & Sons, Sheffield England, Solid Crucible Steel
Plane Markings
"Marples" - found on the top face at the very front.
"M4, Sheffield" - found on the top face at the front, behind the knob.
"England" + Shamrock Symbol - found on the top face at the rear
end, between the handle and frog.
"Marples" - found on the lever cap face.
"Marples, Sheffield Eng" (in a circular motion around the Shamrock symobl)
- found on the trade label on top of the rear handle.
Manufactured Dates
..1937 - 1965..
Disclaimer
(i) This review may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given
in good faith however any such information should not be solely relied upon and
should not be seen as the exhaustive list of warnings / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines. Refer
to good safety practices for the safety of you and others. Refer to good practices
for the good health of your tool and property.
(ii) The details here are given in good faith, the details are constantly growing
and evolving including corrections, there is scope for error and shouldn't be fully relied upon,
please confirm any details for yourself by performing additional research from
reliable sources.
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